Lieutenant Columbo is the TV detective who looks like he slept in his coat and then solves the murder anyway. The costume is easy and cheap: a crumpled beige raincoat, a brown suit that doesn't quite fit, a loose tie and messy hair. The details that sell it are the notebook and the line "Just one more thing."
How to Make Columbo Costume
Beige raincoatBrown suit jacketWhite dress shirtBrown tieBrown dress shoesMessy wigFake cigarPocket notebookDetective badgeSaveTap any item in the photo to shop itClick any item in the photo to shop it
| # | Item | Description | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beige raincoat | The raincoat is the whole character. Columbo's is a knee-length, beige coat that looks worn and wrinkled. This single-breasted trench in a light beige is the right colour and length. Wear it open and unbelted. Scrunch it up before the party and leave it creased instead of ironing it. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 2 | Brown suit jacket | A plain brown two-button blazer in a medium brown. Columbo's suits are baggy and a bit dull, so a roomy fit looks more right than a tailored one. Keep the pockets stuffed with a few odds and ends. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 3 | White dress shirt | A basic white long-sleeve dress shirt, buttoned to the collar. Leave the tail slightly untucked and the cuffs a little rolled for the lived-in look. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 4 | Brown tie | A dark brown tie, worn with the knot pulled a bit loose and slightly crooked. Columbo's ties are dark and plain rather than flashy. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 5 | Brown dress shoes | Plain brown lace-up oxfords. Don't polish them too hard. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 6 | Messy wig | Columbo's hair is dark, wavy and untidy. This short brown wig with grey mixed in works well. Rough it up with your fingers instead of combing it. If your own hair is dark and wavy you can skip the wig. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 7 | Fake cigar | Columbo is almost always seen with a cigar, often unlit and chewed or waved around while he thinks. This is a novelty prop, so there is nothing to light. Hold it between two fingers or leave it in your coat pocket. Skip it if you'd rather not carry one. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 8 | Pocket notebook | He is always jotting things down. A small spiral notebook and a pencil, pulled out right when you are about to leave the room. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 9 | Detective badge | A police-style badge on a neck chain. Flash it at the start of any chat. It is a toy, so keep it clear of anything an officer could mistake for the real thing, and check event rules. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
Getting the Details Right
- Rumple everything. Columbo is shabby on purpose. Ball up the coat in a bag for a day, leave a pen or two in the pocket and keep the tie off-centre.
- Slouch. Walk slowly, scratch your head and look slightly lost. Act like you are about to leave, then turn back.
- Say the line. Walk away, stop, and come back with "Just one more thing..." It is the catchphrase everyone knows.
- Don't copy the eye. Peter Falk wore a glass eye, but that is not part of the costume. A puzzled look and a slight squint is enough.
- The car (optional). Columbo drives a battered Peugeot 403. Nobody expects you to bring one, but a toy car or a photo works as a prop for a group picture.
Alternate Looks and Budget Options
- Cheapest version: your own tan raincoat or trench, a brown or grey jacket, any white shirt and tie, and the notebook. This is already a recognisable Columbo.
- Other detectives: a trench coat also fits a Sherlock style look, but with a very different feel. For a group of sleuths see Detective Conan.
About Lieutenant Columbo
Lieutenant Columbo is a Los Angeles homicide detective who first appeared in 1968 and was played by Peter Falk. The series ran on NBC from 1971 to 1978 and returned on ABC from 1989 to 2003. Peter Falk died on June 23, 2011, at age 83, and won four Emmy Awards for the role. In most episodes the audience sees the crime first and then watches the polite, scruffy lieutenant gradually trap the killer. Wikipedia notes that Falk contributed his own clothing to the role, and that the raincoat first appeared in the pilot "Prescription: Murder."
